COL. ANDREW J. BABCOCK. The fact that a man bore a gallant part in the war for the preservation of the Union is sufficient to entitle him to the respect and commendation of all who love their country. When to his is added an honorable business career and a high moral character, a relation of the incidents of his life affords the biographical writer a pleasant task. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch is one of the great army who sacrificed the comforts of home and braved all the dangers of life on the tented field during the late Civil War. He has been connected with the business life of Springfield for more than thirty years and is now employed in the United States Marshal's office in this city.

Col. Babcock takes a natural pride in his genealogy and traces the ancestral line back to the middle of the fifth century, when the Babcocks emigrated from Saxony to Essex County, England. The first of the family in America was James Babcock who came to Plymouth, Mass., in 1623. His son, James, Jr., was admitted as an inhabitant of Portsmouth, R.I., in 1642, and held positions of honor and trust. He married Sarah Babbitt and reared four children, one of whom, a son, John, was among the first settlers of Westerly, R.I., locating there in 1658. This gentleman married Mary Lawton, of Newport, and their son James, the first male child born in Westerly, married Elizabeth Saunders. The next in the line was James, Jr., who married Sarah Richardson. Following him was Timothy, whose first wife was Lois Billings, of Preston, Conn., and his second, Thankful Rood, of Norwich. One of the children of the second marriage was John, who was born in North Stonington, Conn., July 26, 1765, and died April 24, 1806. He married Louisa Gilmore, a daughter of Robert and Sarah Gilmore, of Keene, N.H. Their children were: John, Louisa and Robert Gilmore.

The John Babcock who settled in Westerly, R.I., was the first magistrate chosen there and held the office many years. He owned nearly all of Westerly and a part of South Kingston and much of this land is now in the possession of his descendants, having been in the family two hundred and fifty years. Joshua Babcock, one of his family, was a Major General of Rhode Island Militia during the Revolutionary War and the public records of the country testify to his ability and integrity as a statesman. His son Henry was graduated from Yale College in 1752, was Captain of an independent company of foot soldiers in 1754 and in 1755 took part in the battle of Lake George. He was promoted to the rank of Major, then to that of Lieutenant Colonel, and commanded a Rhode Island regiment in 1758. He was wounded, but the following year was again in command of his regiment in the campaign under Amherst. In the Revolutionary War he was in command at Newport, R.I. Strange to say, his brother Luke, an Episcopal clergyman, was a Royalist; he was arrested and confined in jail in Hartford, Conn., where he died.

In the maternal line our subject traces his ancestry back to one Thomas Glover, of Rainhill Parish, Lancashire, England. The name is an ancient one in England and is indisputably of Saxon origin. Thomas Glover and Margery Deane had several children, among whom was a son John, who died in Boston, Mass., December 12, 1653. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of London. In 1628 he belonged to a company called "Adventurers for a plantation intended at Massachusetts Bay in New England in America." He sailed from England in the ship "Mary and John", and arrived at Nantasket, May 31, 1630. He brought with him his wife and three children, and all the implements necessary to carry on the tanning business, and settled in Dorchester, now annexed to Boston. His fourth son, Nathaniel, married Mary Smith, a daughter of Quartermaster John Smith, of Toxteth Park, England. Their son Nathaniel married Hannah Hinckley, daughter of Gov. Thomas Hinckley, of Plymouth Colony. The next in the direct line of descent was Thomas Glover, who married Elizabeth Clough, of Boston, the wedding ceremony being performed by the Rev. Thomas Prince of the Old South church. In 1741 Thomas Gover received a commission of "Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse in the first Regiment of Horse in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England," by Jonathan Belcher, Esq., Governor of his Majesty's Province, in the fifteenth year of the reign of His Majesty, King George II.

The next in the ancestral line was Thomas Glover, Jr., the eldest son of the couple above mentioned, who was born in Boston in 1723. From 1731 to 1748 he served as a soldier and officer at Castle William, Boston Harbor. He then settled on a tract of land belonging to his father in Stoughton, Mass. April 19, 1775, he took part in the battle of Lexington, in Capt. Peter Talbott's company, Col. Frederick Pope's regiment. He married Rebecca Pope, daughter of Dr. Ralph and Rebecca (Stubbs) Pope, of Stoughton. Among their children was a daughter, Jerusha, who married Unite Blackman, of Dorchester, Mass. Mr. Blackman was the son of Samuel and Waitstill (Tolman) Blackman, and was born in Dorchester. To Mr. and Mrs. Blackman a daughter was born June 10, 1803, who was christened Lucy, and who, on April 25, 1822, became the wife of Robert Gilmore Babcock. This couple reared eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the fourth in order of birth.

The father of our subject was a skillful blacksmith and carried on the business during his active life. While the War of 1812 was in progress he was taken prisoner, conveyed to England and confined with others in Dartmoor Prison. He was not released until peace was declared in 1815, when he returned to his native land and settled in Dorchester, Mass. His birthplace was Pomfret, Conn., and his natal day February 29, 1792. A few years after the birth of our subject his parents removed to Quincy.

Col. Andrew J. Babcock was born in Dorchester, Norfolk County, Mass., July 12, 1830, and his education was obtained in the public schools as taught fifty years ago. He has always been a great reader and has added much to the information obtained in the schoolroom. When fifteen years of age he entered the employ of W. C. Huneman & Co., of Boston, as an apprentice to the coppersmith's trade. Three years later he went to Lowell and began his life as a journeyman. He had always felt enthusiastic regarding military matters, and in Lowell joined the Lowell Mechanic Phalanx, Company C, Sixth Massachusetts Militia. At that time Benjamin F. Butler, who has since won National fame, was Captain of the Lowell City Guard, Company D, Sixth Regiment, and great rivalry existed between the two companies as to which was the more proficient in drill.

In 1851 Mr. Babcock went to Concord, N. H., where he remained until May, 1856. He then came to Springfield, Ill., and went into business, selling stoves, tin and sheet iron, and doing copper smithing and plumbing. In 1859 he joined a military company called the Springfield Greys, under Capt. John Cook, and at the date of President Lincoln's call for volunteers, April 16, 1861, he was First Lieutenant of the company. A meeting was called and it was unanimously voted to volunteer, this being the same day on which the call was made. Men from the company were detailed to guard stores at Camp Yates and a guard was mounted at the office of Gen. T. S. Mather, Adjutant-General of Illinois. In a few days the company marched to Camp Yates and on the 25th of April they were mustered into the service for ninety days by Capt. John Pope, U.S.A. They became Company I, Seventh Illinois Infantry. Capt. Cook was elected Colonel of the regiment and our subject was promoted to be Captain of the company, which had been recruited to the maximum number from among the first families of Springfield.

July 25, 1861, the command was mustered out at Mound City and those that re-enlisted were re-mustered for three years. Capt. Babcock was elected Lieutenant colonel, mustered in as such, and on March 21, 1862, was promoted to the rank of Colonel "for gallant and meritorious services rendered at the battle of Ft. Donelson." The weather during that battle was the coldest and most inclement that had ever been known in that latitude and the boys were exposed to snow, sleet and hail during three successive nights, without shelter or fire. Our subject contracted rheumatism, from which he has at times suffered intensely from that date. The official records of the war testify to the gallantry and ability manifested by Col. Babcock and his surviving comrades add their testimony. It is sufficient for us to say that when his health compelled his resignation, the acceptance was couched in the most complimentary terms, and the most flattering testimonial was given him by the officers and men of the Seventh.

After returning from the South Col. Babcock again engaged in business in Springfield, but ill health forced him to relinquish it. In 1878 he was appointed to a position in the Internal Revenue Service, which eh held until 1885, when under the Cleveland administration he was removed from office. As before stated he is now in the employ of the United States Marshal, C. P. Hitch. When the polls are open he is always found depositing a Republican ticket, and at all times is ready to instruct others in regard to the principles in which he believes. His private character is accorded its due measure of respect and the members of his family have their appropriate share in the esteem and good will of the citizens.

The marriage of Col. Babcock and Harriet Ann Palmer was solemnized February 25, 1852. Mrs. Babcock is a daughter of Wesley Balch and Harriet (Abbott) Palmer, and was born in Hopkinton, N.H., May 10, 1832. A true daughter of New England, she is efficient, energetic and intelligent. Mr. and Mrs. Babcock have four living children and lost two in infancy. The survivors are: Susan, wife of Zachariah Graham, Charles, George and James. George married Mary buff, daughter of Henry Bugg.